FOAL CARE

Foals and Foaling

First 24 Hours

After a foal is born, it requires immediate, careful care to ensure a healthy life.

The mare is examined to insure the placenta (afterbirth) has passed completely, and she is evaluated for any internal tears or damage that may affect her future breeding soundness. The foal’s umbilicus is examined to make sure it is small and dry. The foal is evaluated to make sure its activity is appropriate for its age {curious behavior, nursing, playing, and sleeping).

Dr Dawn Mrad

In the first 24 hours after birth, the foal is examined for any congenital defects like:

Hernias

Cardiac defects

Eye defects

Cleft palate

Limb defects

An IgG (antibody) test is performed to ensure that the foal has enough antibodies to ward off infections until they can develop their own. Foals are born without a developed immune system, so they must get their antibodies from the mare’s colostrum, or first milk. We recommend you milk the mare immediately after foaling and squirt 20-30 ccs of colostrum in the foal’s mouth.

If the foal has not consumed enough colostrum before they are 8 hours old the foal will be highly susceptible to infections and in many cases, may not survive. If the foal’s IgG tests come back negative, we can we can correct the problem with a plasma transfusion and dramatically increase the foals’ chances of survival.

The following vaccinations and exams should be provided to the foal for the first year after birth: